Luka Doncic performed a baptism by fire Sunday night. The Slovenian superstar, who equaled the Phoenix Suns' 27-points in the first half of Game 7 alone, exacted his revenge on the team that now infamously passed on him four years ago. The Mavericks defeated the Suns 123-90 to win the series Sunday.
The 2022 NBA Playoffs should have been a step forward for Phoenix. Coming off a 2-0 NBA Finals lead and eventual loss, the narrative about the Suns wasn't about their collapse or missed opportunity at their first title. It revolved around a brilliant young core, anchored on three stars surrounded by the league's best set of role players.
Now, the Suns are a team that chokes in the big moments and rosters an arguably washed superstar that will turn 38-years old during next year's playoffs.
The Suns won a franchise-record 64 games en route to the No. 1 overall seed heading into the playoffs. A sloppy six-game series against the eighth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans could've been chalked up to matchup problems. The Pelicans had big, athletics wings that could score, and they torched the Suns. But after they escaped in six games, a series against the one-man army Mavericks was a blessing, right?
That one-man army just stomped on the greatest season in Phoenix Suns history. The Suns now need to prepare for what will surely be an off season without mercy. They'll have to watch the one that got away play in the Western Conference Finals.
The NBA world tried to rationalize it after last year's playoff run. The player the Suns selected No. 1 overall over Luka Doncic in 2018 averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds per game in those playoffs, shushing the critics. That Deandre Ayton didn't show up consistently against New Orleans in 2022. Sure, he had his moments but the domination — dominAYTON — wasn't there.
The Western Conference Semifinal against Dallas should've been that moment. But Ayton's silence in the seven games was filled by the loud abrasiveness Doncic brought. And the only sound Suns fans can hear is the sound of the second-best player in the NBA calling them an Uber home for the remainder of the playoffs.
Four years after that infamous draft, there's a decent chance Ayton will walk in free agency. While Doncic is eight wins from an NBA title, the player Phoenix took over him could be playing in another jersey next season.
Placing all the blame on Ayton is disingenuous at best. The configuration of the Suns would likely be completely different if he was on the roster.
Ayton's the third option behind two All-Stars who also didn't show up in the final two games of the series. In the pathetic Game 7 loss, Booker scored 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting. The “Point God” Chris Paul, who played more like the “Point Fraud” in the final four games of the series, scored 10. Those two are just as much to blame, if not more, than Ayton.
But if there's any takeaway that should be made after the series, it's that Doncic is here to stay. The 23-year old officially secured his status among the best players in the NBA. The way he did it — scoring 35 points with 10 rebounds in a closeout game over the team that passed on him — continued his assent in the NBA ladder.
As for the Suns, the loss opens up an offseason that'll be equal parts painful and puzzling. The optimism from three weeks ago turned to cynicism. Ayton will surely secure a big-money contract in restricted-free agency, will the Suns match? Should they? Will the aging Chris Paul be a part of the Suns' future? Do they need to go all-out for a No. 2 for Devin Booker, who will likely be known as a choker?
These questions and more need to be answered. But for now, the answer looks like it was in front of Phoenix this whole time, and he'll be playing in the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday night.
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